Josh Allen ’s journey from a raw, high-upside prospect in 2018 to the NFL’s reigning MVP has been nothing short of remarkable. The Buffalo Bills quarterback has developed into one of the league’s most dominant dual-threat forces, and after a spectacular 2024 campaign that ended with a trip to the AFC Championship Game, Allen was rewarded with both a contract extension and widespread offseason praise. Yet despite leading the Bills to a 13-4 record and delivering his most complete season yet, some analysts remain hesitant to crown him as the best.
Josh Allen ranked lower than expected among NFL’s elite QBs
Josh Allen's résumé speaks volumes. In seven NFL seasons, he has passed for 26,434 yards and 195 touchdowns, while also rushing for 4,142 yards and 65 scores. But numbers alone don’t tell the full story. The 2024 season saw Allen carry a revamped Buffalo offense on his shoulders, especially after the departure of his top two receivers. With Khalil Shakir taking on WR1 responsibilities and new additions like Joshua Palmer and Elijah Moore joining the fold, Allen still elevated the team’s performance—proving that his MVP title was no fluke.
Despite this, Pro Football Focus analyst John Kosko placed Allen fourth on his list of the NFL's 32 starting quarterbacks, ranking him last in the top-tier group behind Patrick Mahomes , Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson . Kosko wrote, “Allen’s 95.4 overall grade over the past three seasons ranks first among all quarterbacks. His 91.4 passing grade in that span is third, behind Burrow and Lamar Jackson.” The stats support Allen’s dominance, yet his placement suggests that perception hasn’t fully caught up with performance.
What makes the ranking puzzling is that Allen has done more with less. Unlike Mahomes, who benefited from a stable system and elite coaching, or Burrow, who boasts a loaded receiver corps, Allen has consistently overcome offensive turnover and scheme adjustments. He also posted a 2-2 record last season against Mahomes and Jackson, and holds a 1-1 career split with Burrow—proof that he can go toe-to-toe with the league’s best.
Kosko acknowledged Allen’s growth: “Despite losing his top two receivers from 2023, Allen didn’t miss a beat in 2024, delivering his most complete season yet and earning his first MVP award.” But even that endorsement didn’t propel him past the other elite QBs on the list.
Mahomes remains at the top for now, largely due to his clutch playoff performances and poise under pressure. But as Kosko noted, “The supporting cast hasn’t always helped, particularly at receiver… the otherworldly level of play we saw from him from 2018 to 2022 is starting to get further and further away in the rearview mirror.” The gap between Mahomes and Allen has never been narrower.
Allen will get a chance to rewrite that narrative in 2025. With regular-season matchups looming against Burrow, Mahomes, and Jackson, the reigning MVP has an opportunity to prove that he doesn’t just belong in the elite conversation—he could very well lead it.
Also Read: What to expect from Travis Kelce in 2025 as whispers of retirement grow louder in Chiefs Kingdom
Josh Allen ranked lower than expected among NFL’s elite QBs
Josh Allen's résumé speaks volumes. In seven NFL seasons, he has passed for 26,434 yards and 195 touchdowns, while also rushing for 4,142 yards and 65 scores. But numbers alone don’t tell the full story. The 2024 season saw Allen carry a revamped Buffalo offense on his shoulders, especially after the departure of his top two receivers. With Khalil Shakir taking on WR1 responsibilities and new additions like Joshua Palmer and Elijah Moore joining the fold, Allen still elevated the team’s performance—proving that his MVP title was no fluke.
Ranking all 32 NFL starting QBs heading into the season 🚀 pic.twitter.com/6W2zgNnBaS
— PFF (@PFF) May 20, 2025
Despite this, Pro Football Focus analyst John Kosko placed Allen fourth on his list of the NFL's 32 starting quarterbacks, ranking him last in the top-tier group behind Patrick Mahomes , Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson . Kosko wrote, “Allen’s 95.4 overall grade over the past three seasons ranks first among all quarterbacks. His 91.4 passing grade in that span is third, behind Burrow and Lamar Jackson.” The stats support Allen’s dominance, yet his placement suggests that perception hasn’t fully caught up with performance.
What makes the ranking puzzling is that Allen has done more with less. Unlike Mahomes, who benefited from a stable system and elite coaching, or Burrow, who boasts a loaded receiver corps, Allen has consistently overcome offensive turnover and scheme adjustments. He also posted a 2-2 record last season against Mahomes and Jackson, and holds a 1-1 career split with Burrow—proof that he can go toe-to-toe with the league’s best.
Kosko acknowledged Allen’s growth: “Despite losing his top two receivers from 2023, Allen didn’t miss a beat in 2024, delivering his most complete season yet and earning his first MVP award.” But even that endorsement didn’t propel him past the other elite QBs on the list.
Mahomes remains at the top for now, largely due to his clutch playoff performances and poise under pressure. But as Kosko noted, “The supporting cast hasn’t always helped, particularly at receiver… the otherworldly level of play we saw from him from 2018 to 2022 is starting to get further and further away in the rearview mirror.” The gap between Mahomes and Allen has never been narrower.
Allen will get a chance to rewrite that narrative in 2025. With regular-season matchups looming against Burrow, Mahomes, and Jackson, the reigning MVP has an opportunity to prove that he doesn’t just belong in the elite conversation—he could very well lead it.
Also Read: What to expect from Travis Kelce in 2025 as whispers of retirement grow louder in Chiefs Kingdom
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